Detroit's Book Tower Celebrates 100 Years of History

The historic 38-story building has been transformed into a hotel and apartment complex after a major renovation.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Book Tower in Detroit is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Originally an office building with some retail, the 38-story tower was the city's tallest building when it opened in 1926. After being vacant for nearly a decade, Bedrock Detroit took on an eight-year, $300 million renovation project to transform the building into a hotel and apartment complex, preserving many of the original elements like the elevators and 1920s walls and floors.

Why it matters

The Book Tower's 100-year history represents the resilience and evolution of Detroit. Despite nearly being torn down, the building has been restored and repurposed, maintaining its legacy as a landmark in the city. The renovation project also highlights the city's ongoing efforts to preserve its historic architecture and provide new residential and commercial spaces.

The details

The Book Tower was originally developed by the Book family in the early 1900s. After decades of use as an office building, it fell into disrepair and was vacant for almost 10 years before Bedrock Detroit took on the renovation project in 2015. The $300 million transformation cleaned up the building, replacing a rumored Prohibition-era basement bar with new bars and a cafe, while preserving original elements like the elevators and 1920s walls and floors.

  • The Book Tower opened in 1926, making it 100 years old in 2026.
  • Bedrock Detroit began the renovation project in 2015 and completed it in 2023.

The players

Book Tower

A historic 38-story building in Detroit that was the city's tallest when it opened in 1926.

Bedrock Detroit

The real estate firm that took on the $300 million renovation project to transform the Book Tower into a hotel and apartment complex.

Randy Book

The great grandson of Frank Book, one of the original developers of the Book Tower block in the early 1900s.

Jamie Witherspoon

The Bedrock Senior Vice President of Architecture and Design who oversaw the Book Tower renovation project.

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What they’re saying

“When I walk into this building every time, I get goosebumps.”

— Randy Book, Great grandson of original developer (WXYZ)

“It's sort of hard to overstate the level of disrepair. It was a full gut.”

— Jamie Witherspoon, Bedrock Senior Vice President of Architecture and Design (WXYZ)

“The legacy, right. This is a building that stood here for a century.”

— Jamie Witherspoon, Bedrock Senior Vice President of Architecture and Design (WXYZ)

What’s next

The Book Tower will host a family reunion in the coming weeks to honor the building's 100-year history.

The takeaway

The restoration of the Book Tower represents Detroit's ongoing efforts to preserve its historic architecture and transform old buildings into new residential and commercial spaces, honoring the city's rich history while adapting to modern needs.